Portable seat cushion



Dec. 14, 1965 w. F. SCHICK PORTABLE SEAT CUSHION Filed Dec. 5, 1962 INVENTO S C ATTORNEY i Unite tat This invention relates to improvements in portable seat cushions and proposes a novel and advantageous construction which is concerned with the protection of the coccyx, such protection being highly desirable under a number of adverse physical conditions, for example an arthritic condition.

In a known construction the seat cushion includes a casing of suitable flexible material and an enclosed filling material which provides the cushioning action. In this construction the cushion which is of generally rectangular form has one of its vertical faces interrupted by a V- shaped recess to accommodate the coccyx, thereby to provide an adequate supporting surface while eliminating pressure on the coccyx. Cushions embodying the outline feature of the prior construction are of somewhat flexible character and are open to serious objection in that when placed upon a support which is itself a cushion, as frequently happens, they tend to depress or sink into the support with the result that the supporting cushion substantially fills the V-shaped recess and defeats its object, the surface of the underlying supporting cushion thereby imposing pressure upon the coccyx.

The principal object is to provide a seat cushion which, having the outline features of the prior construction, is maintained rigid as to its outline and thereby cannot sink into an underlying supporting cushion, thus insuring the protection of the coccyx.

A further object is to provide a construction which will enable the ready modification of seat cushions of the known construction to incorporate the features of construction and relation by which the protection of the coccyx is assured.

A further object is to provide a construction in which the features which assure the protection of the coccyx may be incorporated at the option of the user.

A further object is to provide a seat cushion in which the rigidity of its outline and the immediate'support for the cushioning element are effected by an enclosed bottom section which is light in weight and of rigid character and conforms to the outline of the cushion as a whole.

A further object is to provide a seat cushion in which a flexible casing encloses the cushioning element and the enclosed bottom section referred to in the preceding paragraph is readily insertable into and removable from such casing.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a seat cushion in accordance with the invention, the casing for the cushioning element being shown as substantially closed.

FIGURE 2 is another perspective view, partly broken away, of the seat cushion but showing the flexible casing as opened to permit the insertion of the bottom section.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the bottom section.

FIGURE 4 is a detail cross-sectional view on the line 44 of FIGURE 1 with the bottom section positioned under the cushioning element as the direct support therefor.

FIGURES 2 and 3, considered together, may be regarded as an exploded perspective view of the casing open in readiness for the insertion of the bottom section.

The seat cushion of the invention includes a casing designated generally as 1, a cushioning element 2 enclosed within the casing and a bottom section 3 for enclosure within the casing as a direct support for the cushioning element 2.

The casing may be composed of any suitable imperforate and flexible material, imitation leather being preferred. The casing comprises an upper wall 4, a lower wall 5, vertical side walls 6, a vertical front wall 7, and a vertical rear wall 8, the walls 6, 7, and 8 being preferably composed of a continuous strip of material having its adjacent terminal edges secured together by stitching. The upper wall 4 is permanently secured by stitching 9 to the upper edges of the walls 6, '7, and 8 and the lower wall 5 is similarly permanently secured to the walls 6 and 8 by stitching which extends along the wall 8 and from the wall 8 partially along the side walls 6.

The part of the wall 5 in advance of the stitching and by which it is completely secured to the remaining portions of the walls 6 and the wall 7 provides a flap It which has a closed position and an open position, being shown in its closed position in FIGURE 1 and in its open position in FIGURE 2. The flap 10 is held in its closed position by a suitable detachable fastening means which preferably consists of the well known zipper construction comprising a series of hook elements 11 secured to the lower edges of the walls 6 and 7, a series of companion hook elements 12 secured to the corresponding edges of the flap 1t) and a slide element 13 by which the fastening may be opened or closed.

The cushioning element 2 consists of a solid section of light weight resilient material. Various equivalent materials are available, the specific material being a matter of choice. In a generic sense the material of the element 2 may be called foam rubber which designation is herein used as a matter of convenience and as including all materials similarly constituted and similarly functioning and of substantially similar weight. While the cushioning elements 2 may be individually molded they are preferably cut in their appropriate outlines from an indefinitely larger body of the material of which they are composed. The cushioning element 2 preferably has a thickness of the order of two inches, corresponds in outline to the upper and lower casing walls 4 and 5 and substantially cor responds in area to such casing walls.

The cushion is fashioned to provide a coccyx protecting recess 14 which has a central location along its rear edge and is preferably of V-shape, the cushion having side portions or wings 15 at the sides of the recess 14 which are of ample areas for the support of the buttocks. The cushioning element 2 completely fills the interior of the casing 1 and along its rear edge is formed with a recess 16 which conforms in outline and extent to the recess 14.

The bottom section 3 is composed of light weight and preferably grainless rigid material, the material preferred being sold under the trade name Masonite and being a grainless manufactured board made entirely from wood fibers thoroughly felted together and compressed. The section 3 has a thickness of the order of one-eighth of an inch and corresponds in outline and area to the cushioning element 2, being formed along its rear edge with a recess 17 which alines with the recess 16 of the cushion 2 and conforms in outline and extent to the recess 14. The section 3 is fitted within the casing 1 immediately under the cushioning element 2 for which it provides a direct support, maintaining the cushioning element under a slight degree of compression. In order to fit the section 3 in the casing 1 the flap 10 is disconnected from the adjacent vertical walls of the casing, as shown in FIGURE 2, whereby the casing is opened. The section 3 is then slipped into position under the cushioning element 2 and positioned to its full extent under the cushioning element after which the slide 13 is moved to fasten the flap 1i) and to close the casing. The closed relation of the casing is shown in FIGURE 1 which may be taken as illustrating the seat cushion of the invention either with or without the section 3.

The section 3 is required for use when the seat cushion is to be supported upon a lower cushion or other support of depressible nature. When the seat cushion is to be used upon a hard supporting surface of plane character the section 3 may be left in position within the casing 1. However, if the seat cushion is to be supported upon a hard surface which is not of plane character, such as the hard surface of a standard office chair, the section 3 should be removed in order that the seat cushion may readily conform to the contour of the hard non-planar supporting surface. For the removal of the bottom section 3 the flap is detached from the walls 6 and 7 and the bottom section is then pulled from the casing 1 after which the flap is refastened to close the casing 1.

I claim:

1. A portable seat cushion comprising, in combination: a casing of flexible imperforate material having upper and lower walls and vertical side, rear and front walls, the upper wall being permanently attached to the vertical walls throughout their extent and the lower wall being permanently attached to the rear Wall and to the side walls for part of their lengths whereby the unattached portion of the lower wall provides a flap at the front end of the casing by means of which the casing may be opened and closed; means for the detachable connection of the flap to the adjacent side and front vertical walls of the casing for the purpose of closing the casing; a cushioning element consisting of a solid section of light weight resilient material enclosed within the casing and conforming in area and outline to the upper and lower walls; and a bottom section removable from and insertable into the casing, the bottom section being composed of light weight rigid material and conforming in area and outline to the upper and lower walls of the casing, the bottom section as positioned within the casing being located under the cushioning element as the direct support therefor; the casing being formed along its rear wall with a centrally located coccyx protecting recess of substantial V-shape and the upper and lower walls being comformably shaped; the portions of the cushion at the sides of the recess providing buttock supporting wings, and the cushioning element and bottom section being formed with recesses which conform in outline and location to the recess in the rear wall of the casing and are in alining relation when the bottom section is positioned within the casing.

2. A portable seat cushion comprising, in combination: a casing of flexible imperforate material having upper and lower walls and vertical side, rear and front walls, the upper and lower walls being connected to the vertical walls throughout their extent; a cushioning element consisting of a solid section of light weight resilient material enclosed within the casing and conforming in area and outline to the upper and lower walls; and a bottom section enclosed within the casing and providing the direct support for the cushioning element, the bottom section being composed of light weight rigid material and conforming in area and outline to the upper and lower walls of the casing; the casing being formed along the rear wall with a centrally located coccyx protecting recess of substantial V-shape and the upper and lower walls being conformably shaped; the portions of the cushion at the sides of the recess providing buttock supporting wings, and the cushioning element and the bottom section being formed with recesses which conform in outline and location to the recess in the rear wall of the casing and are in alining relation.

3. A portable seat cushion as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bottom wall of the casing provides a flap and the connection between the bottom casing wall and the adjacent vertical walls is of detachable nature whereby the flap will be in open or closed relation, the bottom section being insertable into and removable from the easing when the flap is in open relation.

4. A portable seat cushion as set forth in claim 2 including an opening in said casing for permitting the selective insertion and removal of said bottom section.

5. A portable seat cushion which is selectively usable on a soft surface or on an irregular hard surface to provide relief from pressure at the base of the spine of a person sitting on said cushion comprising: a flexible casing including an upper wall, a lower wall underlying said upper wall, a front wall and a pair of side walls and a rear wall connecting said upper and lower walls; a resilient cushioning element located within said casing and having substantially the same configuration in plan as said upper wall; a recess in said resilient cushioning element lying forwardly of said rear wall of said casing for underlying said base of said spine; a rigid board-like element of substantially the same configuration in plan as said bottom wall and located in said casing between said resilient cushioning element and said bottom wall to lend rigidity to said resilient cuhioning element when said portable seat cushion is located on a soft surface to thereby prevent said portable seat cushion from sinking into said soft surface to an extent which would permit said soft surface to effectively exert pressure on the base of the spine through said recess; and an opening in said casing for permitting selective removal of said rigid boardlike element to permit said resilient cushioning element to adapt itself to the contour of said irregular hard surface and therefore be firmly supported thereby.

6. A portable seat cushion which is selectively usable on a soft surface or on an irregular hard surface to provide relief from pressure at the base of the spine of a person sitting on said cushion comprising: a flexible casing including an upper wall, a lower wall underlying said upper wall, a front wall and a pair of side walls and a rear wall connecting said upper and lower walls; a resilient cushioning element of substantially the same configuration as top wall located within said casing; a recess in said resilient cushioning element lying forwardly of said rear wall for underlying said base of said spine; a rigid board-like element underlying said resilient cushioning element to lend rigidity thereto when said portable seat cushion is located on said soft surface to thereby prevent said portable seat cushion from sinking into said soft surface to an extent which would permit said soft surface to effectively exert pressure on the base of said spine through said recess; and means forming a part of said casing for permitting selective separation of said rigid board-like element from said casing to permit said resilient cushioning element to conform to the contour of said irregular hard surface and therefore be firmly supported thereby.

7. A portable seat cushion which is selectively usable on a soft surface or on an irregular hard surface to provide relief from pressure at the base of the spine of a person sitting on said cushion comprising: a flexible casing including an upper wall, a lower wall underlying said upper wall, a front wall and a pair of side walls and a rear wall connecting said upper and lower walls; a resilient cushioning element located within said casing and having a rear wall received in substantially complementary mating relationship with said rear wall of said casing; said rear walls of said resilient cushioning element and said casing providing a recess extending toward said front wall for receiving said base of said spine; a rigid boardlike element underlying said resilient cushioning element and having a portion contiguous to said rear wall of said casing and following the outline thereof; said rigid boardlike element underlying said resilient cushioning element and lending rigidity thereto when said portable seat cushion is located on said soft surface to thereby prevent said portable seat cushion from sinking into said soft surface to an extent which would permit said soft surface to effectively exert pressure on the base of said spine through said recess in said rear walls; and means forming a part of said casing for permitting selective separation of said rigid board-like element from said casing to permit said resilient cushioning element to conform to the contour of said irregular hard surface and therefore be firmly supported thereby.

8. A portable seat cushion which is selectively usable on a soft surface or on an irregular hard surface to provide relief from pressure at the base of the spine of a person sitting on said cushion comprising: a flexible casing including an upper wall, a lower wall, and means joining said upper and lower walls to each other; a resilient cushioning element in said casing and having substantially the same configuration in plan as said casing; a recess in said resilient cushioning element for underlying said base of said spine to thereby provide a space between the base of said spine and the surface upon which said seat cushion rests; a rigid board-like element underlying said resilient cushioning element to lend rigidity thereto when said portable seat cushion is located on a soft surface to thereby prevent said portable seat cushion from sinking into said soft surface to an extent which would permit said soft surface to effectively exert pressure on the base of said spine through said recess; and means for permitting selective separation of said rigid board-like element from said casing to permit said resilient cushioning element to conform to the contour of said irregular hard surface and therefore be firmly supported thereby. Y

9. A portable seat cushion which is selectively usable on a soft surface or on an irregular hard surface to provide relief from pressure at the base of the spine of a person sitting on said cushion comprising: a resilient cushioning element; a recess in said resilient cushioning element located in position to underlie the base of said spine; a rigid board-like element; means for selectively maintaining said rigid board-like element in underlying relationship relative to said resilient cushioning element to lend rigidity thereto when said portable seat cushion is located on a soft surface to thereby prevent said portable seat cushion from sinking into said soft surface to an extent which would permit said soft surface to effectively exert pressure on the base of said spine through said recess; said means for selectively maintaining said rigid board-like element in underlying relationship relative to said resilient cushioning element including means for permitting selective removal of said rigid board-like element from underlying relationship relative to said resilient cushioning element to thereby permit said resilient cushioning element to adapt itself to the contour of said irregular hard surface and therefore be firmly supported thereby.

10. A portable seat cushion which is selectively usable on a soft surface or on an irregular hard surface to provide relief from pressure at the base of the spine of a person sitting on said cushion comprising: a resilient cushioning element having a front edge, a pair of side edges extending rearwardly from said front edge and a rear edge joining the ends of said side edges remote from said front edge; a recess formed by the contour of said rear edge for underlying the base of said spine; a rigid board-like element; and means for retaining said rigid board-like element in underlying relationship to said resilient cushioning element to thereby lend rigidity to said resilient cushioning element when said portable seat cushion is located on a soft surface to thereby prevent said portable seat cushion from sinking into said soft surface to an extent which would permit said soft surface to effectively exert pressure on the base of said spine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,293,530 8/1942 Beehler 5-337 X 2,543,218 2/1951 Young et a1. 5345 2,933,738 4/1960 Whelan 5-338 2,940,087 6/1960 Kiefer 5338 3,112,956 12/1963 Schick et a1. 297-219 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

10. A PORTABLE SEAT CUSHION WHICH IS SELECTIVELY USABLE ON A SOFT SURFACE OR AN IRREGULAR HARD SURFACE TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM PRESSURE AT THE BASE OF THE SPINE OF A PERSON SITTING ON SAID CUSHION COMPRISING: A RESILIENT CUSHIONING ELEMENT HAVING A FRONT EDGE, A PAIR OF SIDE EDGES EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT EDGE AND A REAR EDGE JOINING THE ENDS OF SAID SIDE EDGES REMOTE FROM SAID FRONT EDGE; A RECES FORMED BY THE CONTOUR OF SAID REAR EDGE FOR UNDERLYING THE BASE OF SAID SPINE; A RIGID BOARD-LIKE ELEMENT; AND MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID RIGID BOARD-LIKE ELEMENT IN UNDERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID RESILIENT CUSHIONING 